We were being carrying out our birding matter, sitting in a hide in a remote space in the foothills of the Himalayas. Our information and pal Khushboo claims, “Sir, I have some information. There has been a sighting of the unusual Tawny Fish Owl. Do you want to keep below at the cover or attempt to see the owl?” It was late in the afternoon, gentle was starting to fade, we have excellent birds here… “Let’s go! We are often up for an experience.” Like Indiana Jones and his pursuit of the idol in Raiders of the Dropped Ark, the owl will be our prize. Little did I know that our experience to photograph the owl was extra like Indiana Jones than I considered.
Our driver sets out on a 30-moment drive to the other aspect of the valley, the previous sighting of the owl. He drives dodging cars, vans, bikes, people today, puppies, and cows, all on a two-lane highway that is barely 1-lane in width. Harrowing is an understatement.
We get there with little ill-consequences at the common area of the last owl sighting. But, there is no owl, it has flown away. We dispatch our spotter, Panku, to find it. And astonishingly he does. But it is mainly concealed significant up in a tree throughout a smaller river. We cannot photograph it. He suggests there is a way to see it greater, just a smaller hike. Modest is not the term I would explain. To start with, we cross a rickety wood bridge with decaying wooden slats that are unfastened. The bridge sways as you wander throughout the rocky creek underneath.
Just about the bridge we begin to climb about 100 ft. We hike by the river on a slim path that is not definitely a path. As we start out, our spotter states be watchful. Duh! We tiptoe together, a drinking water canal on our left aspect, a 50-foot drop on the other. One misstep and it is in excess of. As we hike, he states Be Very careful of these unsafe crops. Do not contact. Very well, that’s a recipe for me to touch. I walk a tiny even more and my foot presents way and I start out to drop. Do I fall down the cliff and crack just one or a lot more bones or into the water and soak my toes? I select the water. I plant my foot in, now all wet, soaked down to the foot. I reach out to hold on to a little something, so I really do not tumble entirely. Ah, there is the plant I’m not intended to contact. Does grabbing represent touching? I grab on to the plant to proper myself. The plant is a Nettle! My hand is on hearth, my bring about hand. How am I likely to shoot? I restrain from jumping up and down as I am nonetheless really near to the edge. This all issues not, like Indy and his idol, I want to see the owl.
I wander a very little further more and come across a indigenous woman with a scythe. She speaks no English and I speak no Hindi, and she is wielding a weapon that could decapitate my head from my overall body. I move nearer trying to gauge her, will she swing it or not. As I go by her, I hear a loud thwack. I verify all my limbs. All existing. Head is attached way too. It turns out that she was just chopping down a smaller tree. Why she is executing that in this area is past motive. I survived the confrontation which is all that issues. Like Indy and his idol, I want to see the owl.
I maintain walking mindful of the water and the cliff. At occasions the “path” results in being no broader than 8 inches. This is not excellent at all. I need to switch again and return to relative basic safety. No, I want to see the owl, and I am stupid, so I maintain likely. The path is now lined with these Nettle bushes. My correct leg brushes up against one. Believe that it or not, it goes proper via pants. My ideal knee and shin are now on hearth. Think about if the plant brushed in opposition to my (!), nicely you know. Pure terror! There is now an itch there. Don’t contact! Be sure to don’t touch! I maintain going, owl on my mind. I number of times afterwards my still left leg brushes against a different Nettle. It is now on hearth.
I am in trouble I am having difficulty strolling and I may possibly not be ready to use my right hand to acquire a picture. Heading again is what my head is telling me. I disregard it, owl on my mind, and shift on. A small whilst later on I reach Panku. “No owl, it flew away.” You can guess my reaction. Every little thing is on hearth, and I approximately tumble to my demise and there is no owl? “Come, we can however see it. We need to have to return as it is on the other aspect of the river (where by we started out).”
I have no decision as I will have to return in any case. I retrace my ways, keeping away from the dreaded Nettles, the ultra-skinny path wherever a person improper step indicates certain dying, the scythe-wielding lady, additional Nettles, and the rickety bridge.
In contrast to Indy who loses the idol to his nemesis Belloq, I keep my prized owl photo.
Was it all worthy of it? It absolutely was at the time. Soon after I located out is not scarce, I’m not so positive.
Right here are a few of other owl shots from our journey:
Extraordinary Birding is the organization we hired to give us obtain to quite a few fowl species. They were great and we very endorse them!
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